The Bookworm Meets the Prince

by Klarika Nuque

  I was currently doing a project that I needed to finish because, well, I hated that people kept on speculating on how Drew and I met, making unofficial books and commentaries of how our love story came about.

  At first, I didn’t really mind it, especially when I was in France studying. But lately, when I was staying here more often— I was just waiting for graduation at that point—it got too irritating.

  So I was about to set the record straight. I was publishing my own story, The Bookworm Meets the Prince.

  I would rather them hear the entire story from me than from some wannabe author who just wanted to sell a few books.

  Alright, by now, they were millionaires because of that story of how the prince disguised himself to meet a boring bookworm. Fine, it was selling like hotcakes, but they got most of the details wrong. I didn’t set my eyes on Drew, I didn’t try to seduce a prince; I wouldn’t even know how to begin doing that. For crying out loud, he had to spell out most of the things that happened between us.

  Anyways, I was excited because I was doing what I loved the most: reading, and now, writing.

  “So, what do you think?” I asked Drew. I was basically shoving a bunch of papers in his face, which made him laugh hysterically.

  “I think our people will love it no matter what. It’s not every day that their next queen writes her own version of her love story. Well, even if they didn’t know it was her, they would still love it,” Drew said

  Fine, they wouldn’t really know it was me who wrote the story. I used a pseudonym to keep my identity a secret, and they wouldn’t necessarily know it was my love story with Drew because this was against royal practices. Because of that, I had to change the names, but I’d still feel better to know I was able to get my story across.

  Looking at Drew, I crunched my forehead to make it known to my beloved king that he shouldn’t be making fun of me.

  “You are still adorable, princess, with your forehead scrunched up like that, but I wouldn’t want your crazy cousin to come waltzing through those doors, shouting at you for not eating properly. So let’s go,” Drew said.

  I let out a sigh and followed him out the door, so I could finally eat.

  “So is everything finally prepared for tomorrow?” Jam asked.

  We were in the dining room; Andie, Chad, Rissa, Jam, Alex, and of course, Drew and I were eating dinner. Just like always, I could say that one was incomplete without the other.

  I let out a chuckle because everything had been prepared for tomorrow’s festivities since the past few days. Drew, on the other hand, beamed happily and kissed me in front of everyone, making them all laugh.

  “Drew, I think you can wait a few more hours. I mean seriously, dude,” Chad said and kissed Rissa’s left hand where her engagement ring was placed.

  Chad and Rissa finally got engaged last month during our university graduation party. They decided to wait a few more years before going through the ceremony, but that didn’t stop Chad from popping the question right away. He said he didn’t want to lose his chance. Rissa was so happy that day, she was literally hugging everyone, even her enemies at school.

  Jam, on the other hand, has been telling everyone that she didn’t have a love life and that she was concentrating on her art. That was true. Alex was constantly helping her promote her works at different galleries, and she was making it as an artist really fast. But even with all that, she was still obsessed with the royal family, and I don’t think it would ever stop.

  Andie was still Andie. She would readily laugh at everyone’s crazy antics, but I felt like there was something she just wouldn’t tell us. I tied to help her, but she still missed that love she once had.

  As for Drew and I… Well, the newsstand did get something right this time around. We were finally getting married tomorrow. We were finally together forever, and this time, no one was coming in between.

  I smiled at Drew imagining the festivities in a few hours. I saw the white gazebo and the white roses around each of its post, the small stand where the pastor will say his words, the white bench where Drew and I will sit, the white foldable chairs around the gazebo arranged for our guests, and the beautiful sunrise on the beach that would later surround us.

  We finished dinner and went to bed since we knew that we had a long day ahead.

  I hardly slept because I was too excited with the festivities. Right now, everyone was panicking inside the airplane to get ready. I was silently laughing because I knew that whatever happens with the décor or gowns, I would still be married to the person I love.

  When we arrived, everyone headed to their own assignment and got busy. Jam and Mom made sure that my dress and accessories were ready, Rissa and Chad coordinated with Mel and Luke and made sure that the venue was ready, Andie, Alex, and Diana were accompanying Drew in our guest room.

  When I finished getting ready, I was in a simple white off-shoulder dress up to my ankles with a white rose crown around my head with my long flowy hair, my Dad was beside me trying to contain his tears. I simply hugged him and said that I will always be his princess.

  When it was time to go to the venue, I hugged my parents and had a small crying session. When we arrived, my parents walked me to the altar with Dad crying more than Mom.

  I saw Drew wearing a loose white long-sleeved polo with matching white pants standing beside the pastor. He was barefoot as well as all the guests since this was a beach wedding. Beside him was his brother wearing a similar outfit. On the other side was Jam and Andie wearing a light brown sun dress that was flowing with the wind. Mel, Luke and their one-year old son Joseph were seated in one of the chairs for the guests. They all had smiles on their faces.

  After the ceremony, Drew and I were smiling at each other when we heard those sweet sweet words.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the pastor said.

  With that, we had our first kiss as husband and wife. It was a short, gentle kiss filled with love but with a hint of the passion that was to come later on.

  We locked eyes, and I realized I would get to see those bright blue eyes every morning when I wake up from now on. I was now the other half of this person in front of me. We had sworn forever in front of God, our loved ones, and our friends.

  I was now officially the queen consort by marrying Drew. Trust me, I have had enough lessons to help me not suck that much at my new role. It might not be enough but hey, at least I was trying.

  Drew smiled at me and hugged me a little too tightly, making me and our family laugh. This was a small and simple ceremony the people knew nothing about. They thought we were getting married tonight underneath the stars, but right now at exactly five am at the same beach he first saw me, Drew and I got married in front of the people who had been with us through all these years.

  I can easily see my parents hugging each other not bothering to contain their tears. Chad and Rissa were busy taking pictures of the event. Alex and Jam were seated beside each other and were exchanging meaningful looks. I really need to know the buzz between those two.

  Andie and Diana were silently wiping their tears away. Andie was also making sure that their mom wouldn’t feel the absence of their Dad who was still in exile. Diana obviously misses her husband, but she loves her children more and she still couldn’t forgive him for his crimes.

  Mel and Luke, who got married two years ago, were trying to contain Joseph from going into the water. Mel resigned from her job at the library when they got married and stayed in Sarconia full time.

  We still talk especially when I’m in Sarconia. The last thing she mentioned about Ryan was that he also finished school and was about to take his master’s degree. He currently has a girlfriend, but he hasn’t taken her home to meet his family. She mentioned that whatever their Dad did, stuck with Ryan since he completely changed his life for the better.

  This was a simple wedding ceremony the Sarconian people knew nothing about. They thought we were getting married tonight undern
eath the stars, but right now at exactly six in the morning at the same beach he first saw me, Drew and I got married in front of the people who had been with us for the longest time.

  We chose to have it at sunrise to symbolize a new beginning. We knew this was kind of crazy; we had to get on the plane and catch some snooze right after to catch up on the other wedding ceremony we are doing for the people. But it was worth it. This was just for me and Drew and no one else.

  Everyone’s clothes were being blown by the wind, and they were wearing big fat smiles on their faces. Drew kissed me again and made my dad cough out a little. The crowd erupted in laughter once more. We knew we had to go back to the airport in a little while, but we wanted to savor every last drop of this special moment.

  After a few hours, as we boarded the plane, I noticed that two people were nowhere to be found. I decided to go and look for them, and when I found them, I wished I didn’t go look for them in the first place. They were behind one set of benches where everyone was waiting for boarding, locked in a heated kiss.

  I didn’t want to disturb them, so I snuck out without them noticing. I knew their little secret now. I formulated a plan in my head and immediately looked for Drew to tell him all about it.

  Drew laughed at my plan to make sure that Jam and Alex would be forced to tell us their story. He mentioned that I should just let them be and when I didn’t agree, he went with my plan and we slept on the plane on the way back to Sarconia. What can I say? I am a spoiled wife.

  When we landed, we immediately went to our designated posts to prepare for the Royal Wedding.

  The Royal Wedding was going to be held at the palace grounds underneath the starry night. It was in their garden that was fully illuminated with fairy lights and light posts. The altar was a wooden gazebo specially made for this event, which is why our names is cleverly hidden in one of the posts. It was then adorned by white and pink stargazers and the aisle was also adorned with white and pink star gazer petals. There were chairs around the venue that can accommodate the five hundred guests we were having.

  It caused a little uproar since it was not going to be held the Cathedral de Sarconia, their hundred-year-old church, but Drew said I could get married where I wanted to. When we explained that since I was the first commoner to be wed to the royal family, thus, a new tradition can be made. The people then relented and are now excited about the event. They get to watch the whole ceremony since it will be broadcasted around Sarconia. It was also made into a holiday!

  This time, I was wearing a white fully beaded gown that reminded me of Cinderella. My hair was arranged in a full chignon that was adorned with a tiara provided by the royal family. My jewelry was given by my parents and my shoes were the same blue hue of Drew’s eyes. Thus, my wedding ensemble was complete. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue!

  When I was walking down the aisle with my parents, I saw the numerous smiling guests, my friends who were happy to support me, Drew’s family who opened their hearts to me, and my husband at the end of that aisle waiting for me. The beautiful arrangement around me dulled in comparison to his sweet smile while he was waiting for me.

  There were more tears shed during the ceremony, but it still ended with that magical husband and wife’s kiss that we waited for.

  After the wedding banquet hosted by Queen Mother Diana and we were in the banquet exclusively with our friends and loved ones, Drew and I put our plan into action.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked.

  “Absolutely,” I said.

  “You do know that’s cheating, right?” Drew asked after I told him about my plan.

  I shrugged. I have decided to throw my bouquet directly into someone’s hands and asked Drew to throw the garter into a certain someone’s direction.

  He smiled at me and went along with it.

  When I threw my bouquet, Jam caught it with a surprised face. The problem was when she recovered, she glared at me. I laughed at mouthed “it is what it is” at her, she shook her head and walked beside me while Drew was about to throw his garter.

  I saw that determination in Alex’s eyes that he should be the one to catch the garter and when he did, he tried to downplay his reaction about winning.

  Jam then whispered in my ear to tell me that she would kill me, but nothing can ruin my happiness at this moment.

  When Alex walked in Jam’s direction and they shared that look that I can only describe as between people who are dating, I knew I had to get the story out of her later.

  But then there was still a game to play.

  Drew and I wanted to shake things up which is why he did a slight sexy dance around me before he placed the garter on my knee. We knew that Alex had to do the same thing to Jam which is why everyone was laughing so hard because when Jam was watching us, she turned red.

  When it was their turn, Alex awkwardly did the sexy dance Drew did that garnered more laughter from everyone. When he kneeled to put the garter on Jam, she turned tomato red and couldn’t even look him in the eye. When we screamed higher, they both turned red and glared at me and Drew. We all laughed and knew that it was all for fun and memories.

  Alex then looked intently on Jam’s eyes communicating something naughty which lasted about ten seconds, Jam then smiled, and Alex cupped Jam’s face with his hands, and they kissed in front of everybody. It caught us all off-guard, but it caused more laughter and cheers because we have been praying for those two to be together since the start.

  Once the pair both get the bouquet and garter, I would have more materials to write under my new pen name.

  “How do you feel about the new title of my book? It has a nice ring to it, right?” I asked Drew as we were seated on the long table looking over our guests.

  He simply laughed and kissed me with much more passion than the last.

  “I think The Bookworm Meets the Prince is the best story you have ever written and will ever write, princess. No one can beat that, not even another prince or princess,” he said and kissed me again.

  This time, I threw all my crazy thoughts and kissed my new husband with every passion I had as the clicking of glasses surrounded us. After that kiss, I smiled and gave him a quick peck to make sure that he was not just my imagination.

  He was real, indeed. I had my prince in real life.

  This was my story. I might not be allowed to share every bit of it to everyone, but I wrote what I could and enjoyed every minute of it. I was no longer that shy little girl stuck in her books. I was now someone stronger, someone as brave as the heroines in the novels I have read. I could read as much as I want, but I wouldn’t want that because I had finally learned to balance the things I loved and actually living my life. It took a long time, and I had some bumps in the road, but I still made it.

  My story might not be perfect, but nothing in life is. I don’t expect to get my happily ever after because I know this is not really the end.

  In every story, the end was always the hardest because you want to know and write more. This isn’t goodbye. It is more of a ‘see you later.’

  But for now, I was thrilled to enjoy a very relaxing honeymoon with my prince. I looked at my husband and knew that I was the luckiest woman on earth.

  The End

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  _____

  Here is a sample from another story you may enjoy:

  CHAPTER ONE

  SAN FRANCISCO, 1888

  Animal

  The snores emanating from the lips of the man beside her could very well have been coming from a pig.

  Her eyes ran over him in disgust, the frown on her face deepening, leaving her with a dull headache. Her skin still crawled from having his hands trail the length of her body in the most demeaning manner, his saliva, and cologne
clinging to her skin as she dismissed the overwhelming desire to suffocate him with a pillow.

  Sighing softly, Gloria slipped out of bed and settled on bare feet on the carpet. Flexing her toes, she stretched both her hands above her head and let out a soft yawn before rising to her feet, exhausted. Taking cautious steps towards her clothes that sat on the chair across the room, she stood in the darkness and pulled the soft fabric over her skin. She loved this part of her job―getting dressed. While it did nothing to wipe her stained reputation, it did end her torture. She could get dressed; get rid of whichever pig it was that chose to grace her bed in that particular moment; and forget for a few seconds who she was and what she did.

  Straightening, she turned her attention back to the redhead who was now turned fully on his back, the sight of his unclad body forcing a frown to return to her face. It was hard to imagine the redhead mayor who lay unashamedly bare before her, was the same man who joined the entire town to condemn and shun her.

  And his wife…

  Ah, the look on Mrs. Bradley’s face would be priceless if she was privileged to see her husband comfortable in the bed of sin. Gloria wondered where the nosy gossip believed her husband to be. A business meeting? A trip? A fundraiser for the church? No doubt the lying bastard would come up with something, and it was certainly no doubt his gullible wife would believe him.

  Mrs. Bradley would believe her husband as would every woman whose husband Gloria had given a taste of sin. And for this singular reason—she thought, as she made her way to Mayor Bradley’s discarded coat on the floor—she always took a souvenir.

  With a smile now creasing her face, she pulled out a customized button from his coat before making her way into the dark of the night.

  ***

  EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

  “Perhaps we do not have to go in person. Perhaps it is possible to have a servant go on your behalf.”